FIFA has officially denied reports that its president, Gianni Infantino, secretly offered Morocco the hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for their support in his bid for a third term. The denial comes as Infantino faces increasing scrutiny over his leadership and controversial proposals.
Allegations of a Secret Deal
The allegations were first published by Times journalist Martyn Ziegler, who has a track record of exposing internal FIFA dealings. According to Ziegler, Infantino held discussions with the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) regarding which country would stage the tournament's showpiece match. Morocco is one of the three co-hosts for the 2030 World Cup, alongside Portugal and Spain.
Sources close to Morocco reportedly confirmed that talks took place, contradicting FIFA's official stance. These sources indicated that Infantino directly engaged with the FRMF over the final's hosting, despite the governing body's denial.
FIFA's Official Response
In a statement to the media, FIFA dismissed the claims as "false and misleading." The statement read: "It is false and misleading to claim the FIFA President has made any promise in relation to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 Final. A decision will be made by FIFA in due course."
The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, but the specific host city and stadium for the final have yet to be determined. Real Madrid has been lobbying for the match to be played at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
Infantino's Re-Election Battle
Infantino is navigating one of the most turbulent periods of his presidency. His proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative has drawn fierce criticism globally, and his support appears to be softening in several regions. The FIFA elections are scheduled for next year, and Infantino is actively courting backing from member associations.
The contradicting accounts place FIFA in an uncomfortable position as Infantino prepares to make his case for re-election. Questions about his conduct continue to surface, adding to the pressure ahead of the vote.
Jordan FA Accuses Infantino of Blackmail
In related news, the Jordan Football Association has accused Infantino of political blackmail. Prince Ali Al Hussein, the Jordanian FA president, published a statement on X detailing unfair treatment meted out to his country by FIFA. This accusation adds to the mounting pressure on the FIFA president.
As the 2030 World Cup approaches, the debate over the final's hosting remains unresolved. FIFA insists a decision will be made in due course, but the allegations have cast a shadow over the selection process.
